(Formerly known as the Michigan Veterinary Specialists Charitable Foundation)
DONATIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE The Canine Heroes Foundation currently provides veterinary pet insurance for five police dogs, but is working to expand the number of working dogs that it supports as funds are raised through donations. Please read about Aski, Dewa, and Kilo to learn about what the dogs do each day to keep the community a safe place.
Canine (K-9) Officers The majority of working “police” K-9s assist Officers by preventing them from going into a burning building or dangerous situations.By allowing the K-9 to enter, it staves off injuries and death of their human partners.
The early years in a working dog’s life are different from other dogs. The K-9 is raised to work as soon as it leaves its mother. Most of the puppies are born outside the United States and the rigid training process for patrol duties begins immediately. At the initial evaluation of puppies, the officer looks for specific traits and a personality that suits the duties of the K-9 officer. The chosen dog receives several weeks training prior to moving in with his/her officer handler.
The K-9 officer in training enjoys learning new "tricks" while training around the clock with his new partner, which is referred to as his/her "handler." Over time, the dog learns to protect the officer and the officer learns how to direct and care for his special partner.
K-9 Officer Aski
ASKI, bred in the Czech Republic, takes all his commands for patrol duties from his handler, Jeff Medici, in the language of his native country. Aski not only works with Officer Medici for the Southfield Police Department, but also lives with the Medici family. He is frequently called to assist in surrounding communities and throughout the state of Michigan for government officials.
Aski trains with his partner/handler each week. A typical exercise includes searching for a bomb. On average, it takes him four minutes to find a bomb in a five-acre lot. When he detects the bomb, he points to it to receive a reward - quality time chasing a tennis ball that his handler throws for him. Every time Aski is successful on the job, he receives attention and affection to reinforce his actions.
Pet Hero Story: On September 14, 2005, detectives from Washtenaw County Sheriff Department needed to track down the discarded shoes of a murderer who had left bloody prints at the homicide seen. Though the subject had been arrested, the police needed the actual shoes for evidence. Aski was called in to do a search for the shoes in a large marsh area because the area was too dense for police officers and detectives to search on their own. After a five-minute search, Aski located both shoes that belonged to the subject. The evidence that Aski found aided in the conviction of a homicide suspect.
Aski searches the field in an exercise to find a bomb.
Dewa is a Belgian Malinois and has been a dedicated K-9 Officer since 2001, protecting his partner and handler John Hunter. Dewa has guarded foreign prime ministers, international dignitaries and our nation’s president.
On the job, training every day is mandatory for Dewa. A typical exercise is tracking narcotics. When he finds drugs, he sits and then points to the area with his nose until the officers retrieve his discovery.
K-9 Officer Dewa
K-9 Officer Kilo and his handler
Kilo is a Belgian Malinois and came to the Southfield Police Department in 2004 from the Netherlands. Kilo receives all of his commands in Dutch and looks forward to catching a tennis ball after a hard day at work with his handler, Officer Jeff Jagielski.
Kilo practices receiving a handler protection command. One of the K-9’s favorite drills is to protect his partner, the police officer, from danger. If a dog is in the police car and help is needed, the Officer can open the door and release the dog from the car with a click of a button on his belt and the K-9 will find and rescue his partner from danger. Pet Hero Story: While on patrol, Kilo was called to conduct a vehicle search for narcotics. Kilo walked around the exterior of the violator’s car and alerted his partner that there were drugs on both the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle. Kilo entered the vehicle and found drugs under the passenger’s floorboard and underneath the driver’s seat. Kilo’s handler located a tube sock with 88 individual rocks of crack cocaine, 26 separate baggies of marijuana, 13 bundles of heroine and 6 packets of powder cocaine, along with $250 cash and a loaded pistol in the trunk of the vehicle. Thanks to Kilo, a dangerous drug dealer is now off the streets and will be spending several years in prison.
Kilo practices attacking on command.
Canine Heroes Foundation c/o Michigan Veterinary Specialists 29080 Inkster Road, Southfield, MI 48034 Ph. 866-964-2483 Email: info@canineheroesfoundation.org
(Formerly known as the Michigan Veterinary Specialists Charitable Foundation)
